Knuckle Rebuild and Drum Brake Overhaul

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Just me but that one cap is junk, I would not run that. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a replacement, the other looks plenty usable
 
You guys are great, thanks so much for your help!
 
Problem:

Ordered the following Brake Overhaul Kit to overhaul drum brake system: Brake Overhaul Kit FJ40, FJ45 9/1971-1975 - https://cruisercorps.com/products/fj40-brake-overhaul-kit-9-71-9-75

It seems that upon assembly, my brake cylinder screws are incompatible with the kit. Attached are images of my previous drum brake cylinder, as well as the new drum brake cylinder. The screw that connects to these cylinders is incompatible. Any advice on what should I do?

Thanks!

image.webp


image.webp
 
Since the Brake Overhaul Kit is for FJ40’s post-9/1971, I’m guessing my FJ40 was produced prior to 9/1971 since im running into an incompatibility issue. Do you think its worth just swapping the brake U-junction with a post 9/1971 one with new screws? I could purchase one from SOR. Sorry if I’m not being clear 😅

image.webp
 
Since your front end has early ball and claw axles on a supposed 71 40, there's no telling what was done. Someone could have put early axles under it, or your 71 S/A built 40 might not be a 71. What's the number on the frame? Is it the same # on the title? Earlier 60's 40's used different size fittings than the 1970s
 
Unscrew banjo bolt fitting. See if the flare nut is the proper fitting to screw into the wheel cylinder. Yes bend line carefully to fit. No order new shaped tubing with proper fittings.

Flare nut wrenches (wide split open box end) are worth it. Kroil the fitting for several days to help loosen them. Watch some vids on brake tubing bending.

Yep the joys of PO's. In 50 years who knows what was done/swapped in/out. So its often best to take out your bad part first so you can see it; then look at the parts catalog to see if listed part looks the same. I like $OR for the pic's, even tho the catalog is harder to use and the prices are higher. The bad news is your rig is down longer waiting for parts.
Start a note book with your rigs info - could be a computer file with pic's and vids. The next owner will say nice things about you.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for your responses! Definitely seems like my rig is a 1958-7/70 according to the following diagram on $OR, not a 1971 as I was told!
1778444919084.webp


@anothernz45 Good idea. Because my Brake Overhaul Kit is for 9/1971-1975 (Brake Overhaul Kit FJ40, FJ45 9/1971-1975 - https://cruisercorps.com/products/fj40-brake-overhaul-kit-9-71-9-75), I'm going to go ahead and order the following components from $OR:

1778445248889.webp
1778445308508.webp


This way I can upgrade the whole system to 9/1971-1975 drum brakes, including with a dual reservoir master cylinder and brand new lines to make the rig as safe as possible. Could I have yalls thoughts on this? I appreciate you guys a ton!
 
Question regarding connecting rear brakes of a 9/71-9/75 40/45 Series:

As I mentioned earlier, I've decided to overhaul my 1971 FJ40 (that has brake components of a 1958-7/70 40/45 Series) to have the drum brakes and plumbing from that of a 9/71-9/75 40/45 Series. According to the following figure on SOR, I'm having trouble understanding how the rear brake lines are connected to the two cylinders. It doesn't show that there is any junction required as it does on the front brakes!

1778516360138.webp


How does one connect parts #46 and #47 to the two cylinders without any sort of junction (part #10) similar to that of the front?

Thank you!!!

Thank you all for your responses! Definitely seems like my rig is a 1958-7/70 according to the following diagram on $OR, not a 1971 as I was told! View attachment 4138115

@anothernz45 Good idea. Because my Brake Overhaul Kit is for 9/1971-1975 (Brake Overhaul Kit FJ40, FJ45 9/1971-1975 - https://cruisercorps.com/products/fj40-brake-overhaul-kit-9-71-9-75), I'm going to go ahead and order the following components from $OR:

View attachment 4138117View attachment 4138118

This way I can upgrade the whole system to 9/1971-1975 drum brakes, including with a dual reservoir master cylinder and brand new lines to make the rig as safe as possible. Could I have yalls thoughts on this? I appreciate you guys a ton!
 
How does one connect parts #46 and #47 to the two cylinders without any sort of junction (part #10) similar to that of the front?
Did one of the original wheel cylinders have 2 ports for the brake lines? An inlet and an outlet for the the other cylinder?
 
Banjo vs flared obviously. Not compatible.

Question regarding connecting rear brakes of a 9/71-9/75 40/45 Series:

As I mentioned earlier, I've decided to overhaul my 1971 FJ40 (that has brake components of a 1958-7/70 40/45 Series) to have the drum brakes and plumbing from that of a 9/71-9/75 40/45 Series. According to the following figure on SOR, I'm having trouble understanding how the rear brake lines are connected to the two cylinders. It doesn't show that there is any junction required as it does on the front brakes!

View attachment 4138627

How does one connect parts #46 and #47 to the two cylinders without any sort of junction (part #10) similar to that of the front?

Thank you!!!
You should have a junction on the pass side rear like this (old pic, the weep has been fixed for you eagle eyes :p)...
IMG_4245.webp
IMG_4246.webp


Junction at diff...
IMG_4247.webp


I believe around 7/70 is when they added power brakes and I am speculating that's when they went with flared instead of banjo for the 71 model year. There was a change for the 69 model year on the lines - the fittings went from M9 to M10. This change was on the line size, not the wheel cylinder.
 
Gotcha. Thank you @Pighead and @rainingagain .
Heres what mine look like, you guys are correct:

IMG_2788.webp

So now that I’ve ordered completely new 9/71-9/75 plumbing as seen on the schematics I sent above, how would items #46 and #47 be installed? Do I need another junction? I am so sorry if I sound like an idiot.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
This should be for the later setup. A line would feed 1 wheel cylinder. Then the horse shoe shaped line and a bleeder on the other w/c.
20260511_164448.webp
 
Last edited:
This should be for the later setup. A line would feed 1 wheel cylinder. Then the horse shoe shaped line and a bleeder on the other w/c.
View attachment 4138787
Bingo! This is the diagram I needed. Thank you all so much— this makes sense now.

Thank you all 🙏🏼
 
Gotcha. Thank you @Pighead and @rainingagain .
Heres what mine look like, you guys are correct:

View attachment 4138780
So now that I’ve ordered completely new 9/71-9/75 plumbing as seen on the schematics I sent above, how would items #46 and #47 be installed? Do I need another junction? I am so sorry if I sound like an idiot.

Thanks!
All good! Sorry, I don't have a pic of the post-7/70 later style, but on yours...

1778532995972.webp


I looked into my parts diagram and that junction is not listed either. Odd. @pb4ugo are you saying that the horseshoe line uses the bleeder line on the forward cylinder on this later setup? And to bleed, you can only do that on the rear cylinder?
 
There's a reason I dont run drums anymore and folks struggle bleeding rear drums. I don't recall which w/c gets the bleeder. I think it's the front 1. I think the rear gets the feed line from the axle.
I dont have a rear axle handy, but here's a pic of the frt.
20260511_170450.webp
 
I only have 1 drum brake left on mine and that is the; parking brake. I eliminated the rear drums because I don't like them at all and converted the rear to front axle disc brakes.
 
Last edited:
I only have 1 drum brake left on mine and that is the barking brake. I eliminated the rear drums because I don't like them at all and converted the rear to front axle disc brakes.
Definitely wanna go Discs at some point too. But boy have I been learning a lot from this job and its been a great beginner project. Appreciate you guys.
 
Back
Top Bottom